This study evaluated whether or not acupuncture is able to treat the sensory irritative components of lower urinary tract symptoms that persist after transurethral resection of the prostate. In all, 42 patients were randomly allocated to three groups: 14 patients received placebo, 15 patients received oxybutynin and 13 patients were treated with electro-acupuncture. Before treatment, the mean maximum flow rate (Q_max) was 21.0 ± 3.2 ml/s, the mean International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) was 12.9 ± 4.2 and the mean I-PSS Quality of Life (IPSS QoL) score was 3.6 ± 1.2. After 3 months, the I-PSS and QoL scores were 12.6 ± 4.3 and 3.8 ± 1.3, respectively, in the group that received placebo; the scores decreased to 11.1 ± 3.2 and 3.1 ± 1.0, respectively, in the 15 patients treated with oxybutynin and decreased to 6.1 ± 2.6 and 1.3 ± 1.1, respectively, in the 13 patients who underwent acupuncture. At 1-year follow-up, the results were similar. The average number of daytime voidings decreased by 8% in patients who received oxybutynin and decreased by 20% in 13 patients who received acupressure; the average number of nocturnal micturitions decreased by approximately 20 and 60% in patients who received oxybutynin and acupressure, respectively.